Annual Report: CIRAD 2007

Coconut palm, tropical forests, productivity and carbon flux

Terrestrial ecosystems are constantly exchanging matter and energy with the environment. How do plantations in tropical areas function in this respect? CIRAD researchers compared carbon flows in a coconut plantation in Vanuatu with flows in tropical rainforests and came up with surprising results—productivity in the coconut plantation was close to that of a natural tropical rainforest. This plantation ecosystem would thus now warrant further in-depth studies to overcome the lack of current data.

Oscar and Oswald, computer-assisted weed identification tools

Accurate plant identifications are generally difficult for non-botanists—standard flora manuals are often hard to follow and identification keys are ill adapted to agricultural constraints. CIRAD has tried to overcome these drawbacks by developing software tools to facilitate plant identification graphically through composite drawings. Two applications have just been implemented to facilitate Asian weed identification.

Borates and vegetable oils—promising wood preservatives

Borates have wood preservative properties and a low environmental impact. These active substances are, however, rapidly leached out when used alone to treat outdoor wood, therefore reducing their efficacy. CIRAD and partners have combined boron with vegetable oils with the aim of enhancing the fixation of this substance within treated timber. The results of this research could give rise to environment-friendly wood preservatives that effectively control termites and fungi.

Cotton pests in Mali—making pesticide management more sustainable

In Mali, 24 000 ha of cotton crops are currently managed under new pest control strategies— growers only spray their fields if pest infestation levels exceed certain preset thresholds. They save over 60% on pesticides by conducting just one or two spray treatments instead of four to six as recommended in conventional farming conditions. This is the result of research conducted by CIRAD and IER aimed at reducing pesticide use in cotton crop fields.

Climate policies—what are the options?

Climate change will be a major issue for decades to come. The most recent scientific findings indicate that greenhouse gas emissions must be significantly reduced in order to curb climate change. But on what basis will negotiations be possible within the framework of new international bodies and how could decisions resulting from these negotiations be implemented in the field?